Cal can see no sense in all the reading his sister Lark does. He has much better things to do such as helping his Pap with the plowing and sheep. One day a lady on a horse arrives up the Kentucky mountainside with books for them. Lark thinks they’re gold, but in Cal’s mind they are just plain ole books. That winter is a hard one, and when the packhorse librarian comes though the freezing weather to deliver books, Cal wonders what is so special about them. He asks Lark to help him decipher their wonder. When the Book Woman returns in the spring, his Mama is able to thank her for “making two readers outta one.”
During the 1930's, the country was suffering an economic depression. Many people were out of work and many lost their homes. President Roosevelt knew the government had to help somehow. The Works Projects Administration was introduced to help people find work. Most of the jobs created by the WPA were meant for men. They built roads, cleared land, and other physical projects. There was a need to create jobs for women as well and the government set up public libraries to serve the population. In rural areas, mobile libraries served the population. But in the backwoods of Kentucky, the hugh bookmobiles were useless. The enterprising women of the hills devised another way to deliver books. They became the packhorse librarians and this is their story.
Just imagine, it is 4:30 in the morning and a woman is riding an old horse up a cold, steep mountain path; it is freezing and a light rain is falling. The woman's saddlebag is filled with books to be delivered to poverty stricken people who live along her route. Enthusiastically awaiting the tattered books and magazines in her saddlebags are families and school children. One woman walks nine miles to meet the book woman and exchange her books and magazines. This is a day in the life of a pack-horse librarian. The authors present captivating information which takes readers back to the Depression era in Appalachia. This book is sure to leave readers with an appreciation for the pack-horse librarians and a desire to discover more about the Depression Era, as well as FDR’s programs that were established to relieve the poverty and suffering during this time. Prepared by: Mary Tyler for South Carolina Children's Book Explore the story behind the story-Learn more about "book women, Appalachia history, and why the
Pack horse librarian project was created.
Cal can see no sense in all the reading his sister Lark does. He has much better things to do such as helping his Pap with the plowing and sheep. One day a lady on a horse arrives up the Kentucky mountainside with books for them. Lark thinks they’re gold, but in Cal’s mind they are just plain ole books. That winter is a hard one, and when the packhorse librarian comes though the freezing weather to deliver books, Cal wonders what is so special about them. He asks Lark to help him decipher their wonder. When the Book Woman returns in the spring, his Mama is able to thank her for “making two readers outta one.”
During the 1930's, the country was suffering an economic depression. Many people were out of work and many lost their homes. President Roosevelt knew the government had to help somehow. The Works Projects Administration was introduced to help people find work. Most of the jobs created by the WPA were meant for men. They built roads, cleared land, and other physical projects. There was a need to create jobs for women as well and the government set up public libraries to serve the population. In rural areas, mobile libraries served the population. But in the backwoods of Kentucky, the hugh bookmobiles were useless. The enterprising women of the hills devised another way to deliver books. They became the packhorse librarians and this is their story.
Just imagine, it is 4:30 in the morning and a woman is riding an old horse up a cold, steep mountain path; it is freezing and a light rain is falling. The woman's saddlebag is filled with books to be delivered to poverty stricken people who live along her route. Enthusiastically awaiting the tattered books and magazines in her saddlebags are families and school children. One woman walks nine miles to meet the book woman and exchange her books and magazines. This is a day in the life of a pack-horse librarian. The authors present captivating information which takes readers back to the Depression era in Appalachia. This book is sure to leave readers with an appreciation for the pack-horse librarians and a desire to discover more about the Depression Era, as well as FDR’s programs that were established to relieve the poverty and suffering during this time.
Prepared by: Mary Tyler for South Carolina Children's Book
Explore the story behind the story-Learn more about "book women, Appalachia history, and why the
Pack horse librarian project was created.
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Photos of real Pack Horse Librarians or "Those book women"
New Deal Networkenter the words "Pack horse librarian" in the search window. Includes documents and photos.
Appalachian History-Learn more about Pack Horse Librarians and their importance to remote rural families.